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Principal Training

What strong principal training entails, weaknesses in current training, and the role of district and state policy in changing the picture.

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Principals in the Pipeline: Districts Construct a Framework to Develop School Leadership ›
June 2012
How does a school district set up a pipeline of effective principals? This article describes four key actions.
The Making of the Principal: Five Lessons in Leadership Training ›
June 2012
This Wallace Perspective describes essential steps in improving training for future principals and those new to the job.
NASBE Discussion Guide: School Leadership: Improving State Systems for Leader Development ›
August 2011
This set of tools is designed to help state boards of education identify ways to improve school leadership.
Quality Measures: Principal Preparation Program Assessment ›
2009
This assessment kit can help those who run principal preparation programs evaluate the quality of the training offered.
Districts Developing Leaders: Lessons on Consumer Actions and Program Approaches from Eight Urban Districts ›
October 2010
(October 2010) What happens when urban school districts set out to improve principal training by flexing their consumer muscle? This report finds out.
The New York City Aspiring Principals Program: A School-Level Evaluation ›
August 2009
(August 2009) A study compares student achievement in schools led by principals from the NYC Leadership Academy with similar schools led by others.
The Principal Story ›
September 2009
(September 2009) A critically-acclaimed PBS documentary is paired with specially-prepared materials to help users promote excellence in school leadership.
SREB Leadership Curriculum Modules: Professional Learning Framework and Module Summaries ›
November 2008
(November 2008) This guide summarizes innovative training modules developed by the Southern Regional Education Board for school leadership preparation programs.
Becoming a Leader: Preparing Principals for Today’s Schools ›
June 2008
(June 2008) Drawing on research and work in states and districts, this Wallace-written report describes steps to address longstanding weaknesses in principal training.
A Better Pipeline to the Principalship ›
May 2008
(May 2008)  Atlanta grows its own school leaders through an innovative district training program.
Good Principals Aren’t Born — They’re Mentored: Are We Investing Enough to Get the School Leaders We Need? ›
June 2007
(June 2007) The Southern Regional Education Board examines the “sad state” of many principal mentoring programs and proposes university and district actions to address weaknesses.
Preparing School Leaders for a Changing World: Lessons from Exemplary Leadership Development Programs – Final Report ›
April 2007
(April 2007) A groundbreaking report provides case studies and practical guidelines to help district and state policymakers reinvent how principals are prepared for their jobs.
A Wallace Perspective: Getting Principal Mentoring Right: Lessons from the Field ›
March 2007
(March 2007) This Wallace report analyzes common strengths and shortcomings of principal mentoring programs and offers guidelines on how they might be improved.
Schools Can’t Wait: Accelerating the Redesign of University Principal Preparation Programs ›
May 2006
(May 2006) The Southern Regional Education Board examines how states can take a more active role in improving university training programs for school leaders.
Developing Successful Principals: Review of Research ›
August 2005
(August 2005) Researchers look at a variety of principal-training programs, examine their strengths and weaknesses, and discuss how they can be improved.
The Principal Internship: How Can We Get It Right? ›
April 2005
(April 2005) The Southern Regional Education Board evaluates 60 principal internship programs and recommends how they can be better linked to current job demands.
Making Sense of Leading Schools: A Study of the School
Principalship ›
September 2003
(September 2003) This report shows why a “one-size-fits-all” view of leadership training and methods does a disservice to both principals and their schools.
Good Principals Are The Key to Successful Schools: Six Strategies to Prepare More Good Principals ›
June 2003
(June 2003) The Southern Regional Education Board recommends changes in principal training and certification to better cultivate effective leaders.
Universities in the Lead: Redesigning Leadership Preparation for Student Achievement ›
September 2002
(September 2002) The Southern Regional Education Board looks at how universities and districts can work together to redesign principal-training programs.
SREB Leadership Initiative: Creating Effective Principals Who Can Improve the Region's Schools and Influence Student Achievement ›
July 2002
(July 2002) The Southern Regional Education Board examines the role of state leadership academies and universities in preparing effective school leaders.
Preparing a New Breed of School Principals: It's Time for Action ›
April 2001
(April 2001) This report identifies 12 characteristics of effective principals and suggests ways to cultivate high-quality leaders.